Several Saskatchewan NDP members took part in this year’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes campaign to show support for the too many victims and survivors of domestic violence in Saskatchewan, and to continue the push for more action to help those who have been affected.

“While I was proud to join with some of the male members of our caucus and step into ‘her shoes,’ it was very much a solemn reminder of how far behind the province is in providing the proper supports for the many women who have fallen victim to domestic violence,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili. “When Saskatchewan has the dubious distinction of having some of the worst rates of domestic violence, we all know we have to do more than walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.”

The Saskatchewan Advocate for Children and Youth’s annual report shows that the Sask. Party is continuing to fail on many fronts when it comes to providing the best for Saskatchewan children.

“The Sask. Party has said they support closing the education funding gap for on-reserve students, but once again those are empty words that show no real action,” said NDP Social Services Critic Trent Wotherspoon. “Aside from our calls to action, the Children’s Advocate called on the Sask. Party to work with the First Nations on improved funding from the federal government, and it’s long past time for the Sask. Party to put aside their bluster and get to work on ensuring fairness for on-reserve students.”

New figures from Statistics Canada show that the Sask. Party’s hike on PST is still hurting investment in the Saskatchewan construction industry, while other provinces are showing increases.

“The construction industry is vital to Saskatchewan’s economy, but what we are seeing is the Sask. Party’s PST hike having a negative effect on the industry and is putting many jobs at risk,” said NDP Finance Critic Cathy Sproule.

The Sask. Party’s hypocrisy knows no bounds. It seems they will say anything as long as it fits their narrative no matter what they intend to do later.

For example, in the 2018-19 budget, the Sask. Party reintroduced PST for used vehicles, which is something they campaigned against in the past. Then-premier Brad Wall said, “The government should avoid doing dumb things, and the idea of charging the PST on the same used car over and over again seems pretty dumb.”

Despite pleas from concerned parents, the Sask. Party went forward with funding cuts in education and caused school divisions to cut preschool programs for kids with special needs.

“The Minister said that he wouldn’t sign off on a budget that made these cuts, but he did,” said NDP Education Critic Carla Beck. “Now, with last summer’s closure of the discovery and communications preschools, children with special needs have lost a valuable asset to their education, social development and personal growth.”